After a poor run of form in League Two the 56-year-old was sacked, with the club saying he would lead them out for the final, but new Shrimpers boss Phil Brown will be in charge

Recently-sacked Southend manager Paul Sturrock has turned down the offer to manage the club for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final.

The Shrimpers travel to Wembley to face Crewe on April 7 and the club have now confirmed new boss Phil Brown will be in charge on the day.

Sturrock was sacked by chairman Ron Martin after his side won only once in six League Two games, leaving the Essex club’s chances of reaching the play-offs hanging in the balance.

The club originally said Sturrock would “lead out” the side at Wembley, but after Brown was hired there was doubt after they said “a lot of conversations” were to be had on the matter.

Southend’s official Twitter feed said on Thursday afternoon: “Paul Sturrock has announced he has politely declined the chairman's offer for him to manage the team at Wembley.

“Paul will travel with the supporters to the game and sit in amongst the fans.”

New manager Brown takes charge for the first time this weekend when Southend take on Bradford, who had a Wembley trip of their own in the Capital One Cup last month when they were beaten 5-0 by Swansea.